Key Words: Cloud Cover and New Moon

Mornin'!  It's 73° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up and shining down with breezes barely there out of the North at 2-3mph.  We're supposed to get periods of "off 'n on" rain showers mostly this morning (90% chance) as this lovely sunshine will eventually give way to clouds. The clouds will be hanging out throughout most of the day and evening as passing showers and/or thunderstorms are all around us.  Humidity's up as temps will be in the low 80s with breezes ramping up out of the W-SW at 18-24mph.  Tonight...mostly cloudy (some clearing) with a chance of a passing shower as temps drop into the low 70s and breezes wift (I mean "waft") over us from the SW at 18-25mph.  By the looks of all the forecasts, tomorrow should be windy with showers mostly in the first part of the day.  Sunday...a "keeper" and near perfect.  Oh... "New Moon" is today...remember much higher tides than usual.  Never drive through tide water!
High tide:7:55a.m. and 8:13p.m.
Low tide:1:42p.m.
Ocean temp:71°
Sunset:8:30p.m.
UV Index:8-9 (high)
Rip Currents: moderate
FOOTNOTE: It's been blue-sky sunshine since 1:00p.m. today.  Not sure where the clouds went, but for now the island's looking perfectly lovely.

Friday Beach Etiquette tips are back~
~Never leave trash on the beach and even better yet...pick up any you see whether it's yours or not.     Note trash and recycle containers as The Wildwoods do recycle.
~Don't forgot those cigarette butts...collect and trash them (or just don't smoke and pollute the lovely sea air). Never stick them in the sand and leave them...that'll be tomorrow's find for the little kid digging in the sand.  Plus, cigarette filters take years to decompose and could be taken to the ocean by the tides giving sea life harmful/toxic cigarette filter tidbits to swallow.
~Remember to pack headphones (believe it or not no one wants to hear your music blaring from your boombox).  Big boomboxes are not welcomed on the beach.
~Kindly give your neighbors space when selecting your beach site. Careful not to plop down in others personal beach space.  Courtesy is key.
~Teach children beach etiquette. Running nearby others and kicking or throwing sand is a no-brainer but sometimes you'd never know it.
~Playing ball, frisbee, corn hole, and kite-flying etc on the back side of the beach (dune side) not near beach goers (the beach patrol will usually stop you anyway if your in the wrong area.)
~Feeding the seagulls is a big no-no. Eat and snack smartly. Using hands to express emotion when holding your sandwich up or out is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Eat under your umbrella or hooded sand chair as the beach vultures (gulls) are eyeing beach goers constantly trying to find who's eating and looking for the right opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times). Once they get you then the havoc begins as 40 other gulls come in for a food fight of your scattered lunch.  By the way, seagulls know "chip bags" and if they see one sticking out of your unsupervised beach bag, they will think nothing of helping themselves and remove the chips from your bag as well as share your snacks with their gull friends while you're taking a walk or a dip (seen it happen many times).
~shake towels and blankets away from others noting the wind direction.
~follow posted warnings (closed beaches, rip currents, surf board/boogie board area etc) and pay attention to lifeguards.
~(hubby suggested this one) If you must use your cell phone on the beach...courtesy would be taking the call away from all the surrounding beach goers and head to a quieter area (dune side of the beach) as again...believe it or not no one wants to hear your phone conversation on their quiet, relaxing beach day.  Happy Beaching!